“I’ve done lots of ball games and events feeling much less than my best, but in this case it’s just involuntary,” he continued. “It’s an eye infection, and my eyes are so blurry and watery and become so light-sensitive that even in dim light they’re constantly tearing up.”

While Costas’ spirits weren’t that down, Lauer still felt the need to joke around with the 61-year-old.

“You go in, you just kind of bang it out. I had to go in early, not to practice my lines, but to Lysol your whole dressing room,” Lauer joked about his recent broadcast experience.

According to NBC, Tuesday night was the first time since 1998 that their Olympics coverage had been anchored by anyone other than Costas.